A remarkable collection of personal scripts and memorabilia belonging to the late actor Alan Rickman will go under the hammer this December, offering fans a unique glimpse into his meticulous creative process.
From Hans Gruber to Severus Snape: A Career in Boxes
The auction, organised by entertainment memorabilia specialists Propstore, features items spanning Rickman's entire film career. According to auctioneers, the actor maintained a fascinating habit of storing scripts and associated items in individual plastic boxes for each film production.
The star lot is Rickman's collection from his film debut in the 1988 action classic Die Hard, where he portrayed the iconic villain Hans Gruber. This highly valued collection carries an estimate of £30,000-£60,000 and includes his shooting script filled with handwritten notes and alternative dialogue suggestions.
Also included from his Die Hard archive are call sheets, press packs, his invitation to the film's London gala preview, and a prop $100,000 Treasury note valued separately at £1,000-£2,000.
Harry Potter Treasures and Personal Tokens
For many fans, Rickman remains best known for his portrayal of the complex Potions Master Severus Snape across all eight Harry Potter films between 2001 and 2011. The auction features several magical items from this period of his career.
Among the Potter-related lots are a gold-plated pocket watch given to cast and crew of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (estimate: £2,000-£4,000), Rickman's personal set of Harry Potter novels (estimate: £1,000-£2,000), and a particularly charming hand-drawn Halloween card from his co-star Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley (estimate: £2,000-£4,000).
A Severus Snape action figure in its original packaging completes the wizarding world offerings with an estimate of £500-£1,000.
Beyond Blockbusters: A Diverse Career Remembered
While Die Hard and Harry Potter represent his most commercially successful work, the auction highlights the breadth of Rickman's distinguished career. Items from the beloved British ghost-romance Truly Madly Deeply include annotated script pages, notes on cello playing for his character, and a thank-you note from director Anthony Minghella.
His memorable turn as the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves is represented by a shooting script valued at £10,000-£20,000. Fans of the cult alien comedy Galaxy Quest can bid on caps featuring the film's logo and an invitation to the cast and crew party, estimated at £4,000-£8,000.
The collection also includes behind-the-scenes photos from Sense and Sensibility, where Rickman played Colonel Brandon, plus items from Kevin Smith's religious comedy Dogma and materials from Rickman's own directorial efforts, The Winter Guest and A Little Chaos.
Propstore's Entertainment Memorabilia sale takes place at Bafta in London and online from 5-7 December 2023, offering collectors and fans alike the opportunity to own a piece of cinematic history from one of Britain's most respected actors.
